Restored

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” – Psalms 23:3

Many of us have grown up reciting at bedtime, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…” and so on.  For some of us, Psalms 23 was the first passage we ever memorized.  But sometimes in processing those words into memory, they become recited rather than understood.  We sometimes fail to comprehend the words as we read them.

The word “restoreth” has deep meaning in Psalms 23:3.  To have something restored to you, it must have been yours at one time, and then was taken away.  The word also means to turn back, or return.

The Hebrew word from which it is translated, shuwb (H7725) is what is called a primitive root word. Primitive root words originated before Hebrew language, and were written with symbols that are cuneiform logo syllabic markings that had specific meanings.  These began as markings on clay tokens for record keeping.  For example, as early as 8000 BCE Mesopotamia, they can be found on clay tokens.  If you were keeping record of sheep, the token would have a symbol etched in it that meant sheep.  You’ll find it prophetic that the symbol for a sheep was that of a cross marking on a disk shaped token.

As it became difficult to manage multiple tokens, cuneiform characters evolved to note more than one thing at a time.  For example, a wedge meant one, and a circle was ten. To write five sheep, you would write five wedges and the sign for the sheep, a cross.  The earliest markings eventually became words, and those words are known as primitive root words.  The word shuwb, or “restoreth”, is one of those words.

To fully understand “He restoreth my soul” we have to realize that it was once ours, and then was not, and had to be returned to us. 

Go back to Genesis 2:7 and you’ll find where the soul was given to us.  It says “God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul“.  God’s eternal life that flows in Him was given to us, giving our SOUL life. We were made in God’s image, and (Genesis 1:26-27) His breathed in Spirit was eternal, and we became eternal living souls.

But through our sin, that Spirit was taken.  God warned in Genesis 2:17 that if we rebelled and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”  But when Adam and Eve did, they did not suffer a flesh death.  What they did suffer was a soul death.  The first effect of the fruit was that the “eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7).  This wasn’t just a physical nakedness, but spiritual nakedness - helplessness.  The word eye is translated from the Hebrew word ayin (H5869), which is both “of mental and spiritual faculties”.  You’ll find the word eye often used in the Bible to mean spiritual sight or blindness.   

So through sin our soul died.  Spiritual life was lost.  This is why we refer to those that have not been restored through the righteousness of Christ as “lost” and those that have as “saved”.  To be saved is to be restored.  For at that time of salvation, we are given His Holy Spirit, our soul is given life again, and we receive eternal life in us. 

1 Corinthians 3:16 says “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 

1 Corinthians 6:19 says “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 

Ezekiel 36:27 quotes God as saying to the prophet regarding His people, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Ephesians 1:13, it tells us we are sealed (marked), with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit as it says “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we have been restored!  We have been given back what was lost in Eden.  Why?  The rest of the Psalms 23:3 tells us why.  It says, “…for his name's sake”.  It is for God’s fame, God’s reputation, God’s glory.  For that purpose He shows His glorious grace, love, and forgiveness to us.

As we live restored to Him, let us make Him famous!  That is our purpose.  Love as He loved, forgive as He forgave, and always give Him praise.

Be of Good Cheer

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NKJV)

One of the phrases that Jesus used several times was “be of good cheer”.  In the above verse, he said it while speaking to his disciples, to remind them that though they would encounter trouble, He had already overcome this world and its troubles.

Matthew 9:2 says “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Imagine that man, having been paralyzed and carried to Jesus by others.  Imagine hearing, “be of good cheer”, and knowing your sins were forgiven.  The next thing Jesus says to him is “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he did just that.  He walked away, carrying his own bed.

Later that same day as he passes through a crowd of people a woman who had been sick for twelve years struggled and got to Jesus to touch the hem of his garment.  In her faith, she knew that if she could only touch His garment, she would be healed.  Jesus says to her in Matthew 9:22, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.”  She was made well that very hour. 

Days later as the disciples are all in a boat heading to Gennesaret.  Night came, and Jesus walked on the water to them in the middle of the sea, with the wind blowing and waves tossing all around Him.  When His disciples saw Him, they were afraid, thinking He was a ghost.  But Jesus said to them in Matthew 14:27, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

The Greek word for cheer is tharseō (G2293).  It means to have courage and comfort.  In all these situations, one thing is present: fear.  Fear of sickness, fear of death, and simply fear of the unknown.  Fear can become a crippling, sickening disease if we let it.  It can lead to depression and anxiety.  It can affect not only our health, but even our social life. 

Jesus wants us to live this life with comfort and courage, without fear creating barriers and borders that we will not cross.  The freedom He has given is for this life as well as life after death.  He said to his disciples something we all need to focus on from time to time.  He said “I have overcome the world”.  What does that mean to you?  Nothing you will encounter is too great for you to bear, too hard for you to walk through, or can break you.  Because He is with us always (Matthew 28:20), because he says he will even pass through the fire with us (Isaiah 43:2).  We are OVERCOMERS, through our faith in Christ.  There is nothing here to fear, nothing that should discourage us or cause our faith to despond.  So friends, be of good courage!

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” – 1 John 5:4

Fervent Love

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

There are a lot of valentine’s cards being exchanged today.  Undoubtedly, some will be exchanged in the middle of an argument, in the middle of hard feelings and anger.  When that happens you’re faced with a decision.  Do you want to hold on to your anger, or express and accept love? 

Go ahead.  Give grace.  Accept love.  You’re not so perfect yourself!

If you want to live a life based on love, without grumbling and frustration, you have to forgive every situation that presents itself to frustrate or anger you.  Forgive it.  Don’t roll it under the emotional rug, and try to forget it.  FORGIVE IT. 

Toothpaste cap left off?  Coffee stains on the rug?  TV turned up too loud?  Dishes left in the sink?  Whatever frustrations you have with your spouse can easily become a wall between you if you don’t let go of it.  Love allows you to let go of the frustrations and anger before they build up.  There is no more powerful emotion for the human heart than love. 

When those moments arise and you want to retain your anger, or worse, express it loudly, remember your own idiosyncrasies and mistakes.  Remember when you burnt dinner and smoked up the entire house?  Remember leaving out the milk?  How about the time you ruined their favorite shirt?  Remember that you have been forgiven by the same person you wish to be angry at.  Then give as you have been given the forgiveness that you both deserve. 

Life is what you make of it, and so is marriage.  If you choose to continually hold on to anger, you’ll live angry.  If you choose to express love, you’ll live a life filled with love.  So open that Valentine’s Day card, and accept the love.  Move past your frustrations, and realize what a wonderful gift it is to have someone love you, and love them in return. 

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” – 1 Colossians 3:12-15

Small Town – Big Gossip

 

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37

I love living in a small town, I truly do.  That’s why I’ve spent my 53 years living in the same town I was born.  I love that a short trip into town for even just a loaf of bread can mean running into people I used to work with, old neighbors, relatives (we’re all related I believe!), and even friends from my childhood.  Going to school, K-12, all on one campus means that you know everyone within at least 10 years of yourself – or their brothers and sisters. 

But a lot of the time, living among people who know you so well is a two edged sword. Even those wonderful moments of reconnection can take an ugly twist. 

The questions start with seemingly sincere concern, like “Have you seen Jane lately? What’s she doing these days?” No matter what your answer, the next question seems to always lead to their true inquiry, “You know I heard that she….” Oh, just fill in the blank!  Has a drinking problem, got a divorce, was running around on her husband, got fired from her job, and so on! 

Frankly, I hate gossip.  I don’t talk to many women or gather with them because I know we are the species that usually does this. That’s not to say men don’t as well, but geez ladies, can we just admit that we do have that tendency?  We love to judge each other!  We love drama! We love to talk and get attention!  And somehow we’ve come to the conclusion that gossip is interesting conversation and we just blab…and blab…and blab!  And then comes the next ‘car on the gossip train’, the next acquaintance into the grocery store or the doctor’s office.  And we spread it a little more, retelling what we were told, often under the label of a “prayer concern”.  Oh, now don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean!  “Please remember Jane when you pray.  I don’t know if you’ve heard or not but…”  Really now.  How ugly!  Then that person turns the isle, and sees someone they know and before you know it, the whole town is talking about Jane.  I sometimes wonder what a day at the grocery looks like to those that work there! 

Here’s the thing.  If you live here long enough, eventually you will be Jane.  You will be the subject of those conversations.  It’s a given.  I know I’ve been the subject a few times, and frankly, I was over it about as fast as it started.  I don’t value the opinions of people enough to care - and I do know that the opinion of God is all I need to worry about.  Yet, our reputations do matter.  Those rumors effect our ability to serve Him.  Consider that.  Consider that the words from your mouth damaging the work for God that person can do.  Do you want to be held accountable for that?  How will you feel when you get to Heaven and God says, “Remember when you cut down Jane? Well those words you spoke were also carried by 129 other people.  One of them knew your son Bob.  While Bob was destined to marry Jane, and she would have lead him to Christ, he was turned against her by that rumor, and it never happened.”  How about that scenario?  How will you feel knowing that you harmed those you loved – not just Jane?

If that doesn’t make you think, maybe this will.  Living in a predominately Christian town, we’ve all heard Luke 6:37, which says “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”  But have we ever really read it?  Have you ever really heard what is being said?

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged.”  God only has the power to judge, and He is merciful.  But if we want to take on that authority, He will judge us accordingly. Matthew 7:2 says “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you”.  Have you talked about someone who told a lie? For goodness sake, be sure you’ve never told one.  Have you talked about someone’s drinking getting out of hand?  Oh be sure you stay sober!  God’s memory never fails. 

“Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.”  Mercy isn’t just something God gives.  It can also be given by us.  Those that are merciful receive mercy.  Matthew 5:7 says “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”  Or perhaps you don’t think you need mercy?  Oh, Father God, open the eyes of anyone who doesn’t think they do!  I myself need an endless line of dump trucks full of mercy, lined up and emptying out on me every single day - from God and people.  But our condemnations never cease.  It’s not always something big.  Sometimes it’s small comments about appearance, how we should raise our kids, or how messy our house is.  Small things turn into big things sometimes.  Romans 2:1 says that in whatever way we judge others - it’s in that same way we condemn ourselves. 

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”  I think this is the part of Luke 6:37 we overlook, or undervalue, most.  We’re all going to disappoint each other from time to time.  Sometimes those disappointments are going to truly hurt.  Husbands and wives can disappoint each other.  Brothers and sisters, neighbors, best friends, we’re all going to screw up and when we do, it often affects others.  The fact is, sin is never personal.  It always hurts someone else.  But if you want God’s forgiveness, you have to forgive each other.  In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” So…build a bridge and get over it! You can’t afford to let that thing linger, because you do not know the day or time when God will call you home my friend.  Unforgiven things in your heart cut your ability to love and be loved, to forgive and be forgiven.  Mend your broken fences, patch up your relationships, and move forward.  There’s not a thing on this earth that is worth ruining your relationship with God.

Now, lest someone gets some cockamamie idea that this is all because someone has spread gossip my way or there’s some little thorn in my side started by gossip, I’m going to tell you up front – nope.  It’s just God delivering a message through me.  When I prayed this morning, I asked Him to use me to His glory, and he immediately started talking about this verse.  So if this didn’t set well with you, talk to Him about it.  As they say, don’t shoot the messenger.  He’s a God of love, and His message spoken (or in this case, written) in love as well.  I still love my hometown, every single one of you, because you all make it what it is.  When we hurt, we all hurt.  When we celebrate, we all celebrate.  That’s how God designed the body of Christ to be. 

 

Hearing Whispers

“Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” – 1 Kings 19:11-12

Don and I have communication issues.  Sometimes I say things and he doesn’t hear me, and other times he says things, and I don’t understand what he said, so I’ll ask him to repeat it – sometimes multiple times.  It’s funny sometimes the things I think I hear him say which are so far from what he actually said! 

The issue is we both have one ear that doesn’t hear as well as the other.  For him, it’s his left ear, and for me it’s my right ear.  So when we position ourselves to sit near each other, we take that into consideration.  He sits on my left, and I on his right.  Then I can even hear his whispers.  But it’s a matter of positioning.

Picture Elijah on the Mountain, trembling in fear of capture by Jezebel and her army.  God tells him to stand on the mountain before Him, but instead, he’s hiding inside a cave.  He doesn’t come out.

What God does next we should all take notice of.

First, God sends a strong wind to break the mountains into rocks.  If you want to get a man out of a cave, I would suggest that falling rocks, the mountain literally falling apart, would be a really good way.

Secondly, God sent an earthquake.  An earthquake would shake that mountain and even the ground under Elijah’s feet!  That would make me abandon all the comfort of that cave for clear ground (or so I would hope!).

Lastly, God sends one thing we cannot survive, fire.  Yet, Elijah didn’t move!  You see, Elijah had allowed himself to become so desperate and afraid that he had a death wish.  He wanted God to remove him from this life because of the fear he had of what Jezebel would do to him.  In verse 4 he spoke to God and said ‘“It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Sometimes life can beat us down so far that we don’t even see how God could get us through it.  We can lose faith in the fact that God’s will toward us is always for our good, as His children.  I think we’ve all been there, at a point of complete desperation.  We’ve been so far down in the pit that we cannot see God’s desire to pull us out. 

Yet, the next thing God does is so loving, and so full of His Holy Character! 

God whispered. 

In what is described as a “still, small voice” God said “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God’s question wasn’t one out of ignorance as to how Elijah had gotten to his destination.  God watched as he travelled to Beersheba after hearing Jezebel’s death threat.  God even sent an Angel to feed him.  Then God strengthened Elijah to travel to the mountain 40 days on that one meal.  God knew he was there, and God knew why.  God’s question was redundant.   He was seeking communication with Elijah. 

Sometimes we can become like Elijah.  We can get so lost in our own worries that we fail to pray.  We fail to communicate with God.  We can get so deeply into the cave that we create for ourselves, allowing our worries to consume us, that we don’t listen for God’s guidance.  And yet, God will crash down everything around us just to draw us out, to cause us to come to Him and hear His whispers.

Just as I must position myself to hear Don, I have to position myself to hear God’s voice.  The worries of the world and this troublesome life can flood into your mind and heart and drown out His still small voice. 

How do you move out of your cave?  You go stand before God.  That’s what Elijah did.  Take time to remove yourself from the worries, abandon your dark cave, and seek out God.  When you seek Him, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  James 4:8 says that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. 

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.” – Psalms 121

 

The Yoke of Christ is not a Burden

 

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29

In context, this verse is to those who are workers, tired and weary, bearing a lot of burdens, and instructing them how to find rest.  It is odd, when you first read it, that the instruction is to ‘take my yoke upon you’, adding more to the load of the weary it would seem.  But not all loads are heavy.  You won’t feel as tired carrying a box of pillows as a box of cinder blocks.

What is different about the load that Jesus instructs us to carry is that it is first not a load, but a yoke.  A yoke is used go guide a farm animal through a chore like plowing land.  Jesus asks us to let him be our guide by taking on His yoke.  There are two things he tells us about that yoke.  It’s gentle, and it’s “lowly in heart”. 

Meekness is the opposite of prideful, and is what “lowly in heart” means.  Pride will cause a lot of undue stress and struggle in your life.  It’s a will to never feel second place, when in fact, the will of God is that we all be servants, which means we will all be second place on this earth.  That servant attitude is not only for the recipient – but also for the servant.  Humility is a good thing, reducing our self-pride and causing us not to think higher of ourselves than we should (Romans 12:3).  You’ll be less likely to live with the stress of what others thing of you when your pride replaced with a “lowly in heart” attitude.

The second attribute of the yoke of Christ is that it is gentle.  I think this is best described in a few verses where the word is used.  Titus 3:2 says “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”  James 3:17 says “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Ephesians 4:2 says “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”.  To be gentle is to live with others peacefully and through God’s wisdom.  Gentleness is how a shepherd treats his sheep, and how we should treat each other if we are to show the love of Jesus.

Living with a selfless gentle attitude is part of the sanctification process of believers.  It makes us more like Christ, whom we profess to follow.  And while it may seem like we’re taking on yet another “chore” or yoke, and carrying yet another burden to hold ourselves accountable to, the truth is that this is the way to rest in this world.  This is the working of righteousness in us.  Lord, let this be our daily yoke! Guide us to always be gentle and humble.

“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” – Isaiah 32:17

Mention?

 

I’m often amazed at how God leads me into study.  Today it was the most unlikely word: mention.  Why “mention” I thought? 

As it turns out, the verse is used several times in the Old Testament with reference to the false gods that were being worshipped, and how we exalt God with our words.  Here are some examples:

“And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.” – Exodus 23:13

“and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,” – Joshua 23:7

If this teaches us anything, it should be that God is jealous.  He wants our entire worship, and nothing less.  He wants our praise, the “mention” of His name.

While today, at least in the US, we don’t have a plethora of gods that we worship, we have exalted a lot of other things to god-like levels.  We “mention” them all the time.  We do it with our jobs, our money, our homes and belongings, our social status, our children, and you pick it – there’s a long list!

The time we spend talking about these things….I just have to wonder….is God jealous?  My heart answers back…yes, He is.  Yet, I believe He gives us things like our jobs and children for our own delight.  So how might we turn the tables on what is being exalted?  Perhaps it’s just the mention of His name? “I thank God for my job, my house, my children, my friends, my family...” See how easy that is?  Praise isn’t complicated.  It’s just the mention of His name.  That has to be the most effortless form of worship.

“My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” – Psalms 71:15-16

Chains in Christ

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” – Philippians 1:12-14

I’ve heard it said hundreds of times, ‘hindsight is 20/20’, meaning that once we get into the future, we can look back at our situations and see things clearly.  We can then understand why God placed us on that tough path.  Paul in this passages was expressing this same fact.

At this time Paul was in prison in Rome and had been asked to give an account for the things he preached.  While being in prison isn’t a good thing, it did provide him one of the greatest opportunities to preach to those who were in high government positions in Rome.  His words that “my chains are in Christ” state that it wasn’t evil things that put him in prison, but the will of God so that His work could be done.  Paul states that he had become “more bold to speak the word without fear.” 

Had Paul not endured prison, he may have never gotten an audience with the people in Rome that would hear him.  Yet, because of the “chains in Christ”, he was given an opportunity to do something very special for God.  Later on he speaks of this opportunity saying “in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Sometimes the “chains of Christ” look like an evil thing has been done to us.  We don’t see the good in it.  Yet, God tells us that he seeks to do good by us, and to give us a hope and a future.  We have to trust in that when the “chains” feel more like a burden than an opportunity.  Hindsight is 20/20.  Trust God and wait for the future to remove the veil and show us His plan.

 

The Mystery of Turning Bad into Good

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

This is one of those verses that can make your head spin in light of events in your life that are for all intents and purposes not good at the time they happen.  How can God use the death of a young child for good?  How can God turn the murder of innocent people into something good?  How can being diagnosed with cancer become something good?

I’ve been through a few of these types of events both personally and through friends and family.  What I can tell you is that the one good I have seen come from them is in our relationship with God.  It’s in those lowest of lows that we experience that we learn that we can only trust in God to turn the situation around.  It’s in a situation that you cannot change that you have no choice but to trust that God is still God, almighty, in all authority, and allowing things that may not appear as good in order to achieve something greater.

The story of Job comes to mind.  If you read the book you find that Job did have plenty of questions as to why God allowed him to lose all his children, all his livestock, and to even be given a horrible disease of boils all over his body.  His own wife lost faith in God, which only made his experiences in that valley even harder.  She was the one love he had left, and she wanted him to just curse God and die.  While she may have spoken those words out of compassion for his suffering, and thinking he would no longer be in pain, the fact is, she gave up on God.  When two become one, and one does not have the faith to stand in the valley, things become harder for the one that does.  Job endured a lot.  And in the end God blessed his perseverance and the fact that even though he questioned God, he never stopped honoring God. 

Trusting God in the valley is a faith growing experience.  But it can be that season of winter when all the sap in that tree of faith dries up, and you just have to hang on for spring.  Just do that.  Hang on. 

This song by Lauren Daigle has become one of my favorites.  She sings about this very thing.  When we don’t get our way, when our prayers are not answered the way we want, we just trust in God with all we have to offer Him.  That is loyalty.  That is obedience.  That is faith.

When God says Pray - PRAY

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” – Romans 8:26

Coming out of Nashville during rush hour traffic Thursday, my nerves were a bit frazzled.  I don’t like driving in Nashville, and I’m sure many of you can relate to that!   I was on Briley Parkway, already past the Opry Mills Mall, and watching traffic with all I had in me.  Suddenly from deep inside I heard “Pray”. 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit in us will direct us to do various things.  He will tell us who to talk to, to pay that extra bit for the person in front of us at the checkout, to help a mom with her crying child, or to cook for those who are too sick to do it.  But this time it was a simple “Pray” command.  I started praying.  I prayed for my safety, and the safety of those around me, looking at each car and the person inside and asking God to grant them mercy. 

This prayer was shorter than I expected as suddenly on the hillside to my right, about 20 yards from me, I saw a huge cloud of dust.  There was a concrete wall below the hillside, which was going toward an off ramp.  Suddenly a dark blue minivan appeared tumbling through the dust and then headed nose down to land on the off lane beside me.  Traffic went from barreling down the road at 80+ MPH to around 50 MPH.  I think it gave us all a good warning.

I’ve gone through all the news channels trying to find out what happened to the passenger and how they got in that predicament.  All I could see to explain it was one small red SUV in the area between the ongoing traffic lanes and the exit lane.  I don’t know if one squeezed into the wrong lane or what, but she ended up going in the opposite direction and high up the embankment above the concrete wall.

All that to say this.  Earlier this week without being able to spend time doing my daily devotional as long as I wanted, I relied on the Daily Bread app on my phone.  The September 1 article is titled “Because You Prayed”, and talks about how King Hezekiah received a scroll from King Sennacherib telling him that he was going to destroy his kingdom just like he had all the others.  King Hezekiah took the scroll to the altar of them temple, spread it out before God and prayed and asked God for help.  Soon after that the prophet Isaiah was sent to Hezekiah with a message found in Isaiah 37:21-35.  It starts by saying, “BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRAYED TO ME against Sennacherib king of Assyria…”. 

I think the intention God was to give me in this was to show me that my prayers do matter.  Sometimes we can pray for months, years even, and not see a result.  We feel like giving up, like God isn’t interested in our concern.  But God hears them every one and His word says that if we delight in Him, He chooses to give us the desires of our heart (Psalms 37:4).  Continuing “steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12) is to not give up when the acts of God are not visible, but to allow that time of waiting to increase our faith.  We speak to Him with expectation of His answer, of His either changing our will to serve His purpose, or answering our prayers as we saw fit, with a Yes and Amen.

Driving past that dust bowl and minivan sitting nose down on the highway, I saw a police car behind us with blue lights flipped on.  He was there when he needed to be.  Coincidence?  I think not. 

None of the cars around me, including the small red SUV parked between the traffic lanes and the exit ramp, were hit.  Coincidence? I think not.

God has a reason for the things He asks of us.  Prayer is as simple as a conversation with God.  He’s been far too good to me to ever tell him “sorry Father, I’m too busy for you right now.”  When He says Pray, I will pray. 

Three Lies Satan Tells

My study this morning was in Matthew 4.  It was on the heels of God giving me a battle cry yesterday: “This is war, I know my enemy, and I will not retreat.” I must have heard that come through my head a dozen times yesterday.  In some ways I did retreat, I walked away from a battle I think I could have fought and won with God on my side.  But sometimes, during the battle, the victory isn’t seen so clearly.  I believe what I read this morning uncovered some of what I was facing.

You see, in the midst of spiritual battles, satan will lie to you.  He did it to Jesus on the mountain, and his tactics have not changed.  This morning while reading about Jesus’ temptation by satan, I saw three lies he tells us.

“Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” – Matthew 4:3

The first lie he tells us is in questioning our identity.  He said to Jesus “IF you are the Son of God”.  If he can get you to believe this lie, that God is not with you and not concerned about you as His child, the battle is over my friend.  With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) and without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

“and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” – Matthew 4:6

The second lie he used was to question God’s word.  He used it to tempt Jesus, but he also twisted God’s word ever so slightly.  The truth is in Jesus’ reply: “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”  If satan can get you to believe his version of God’s word, it soon will all fall apart, and you’ll question God in entirety.  Be careful what you believe to be truth.  If it’s not in God’s word, it’s not truth.  God warned us to study to show ourselves approved, as a worker who does not need to be ashamed and is able to use the truth (2 Timothy 2:15).  God’s word is the full measurement of truth and in it you will find all your answers.

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” – Matthew 4:8-9

Ah, satan is such a liar!  The earth and the fullness thereof belongs to God (Deuteronomy 10:14). There’s NOTHING here that he can give you but grief and pain.  Ask yourself, what did he give Job when God allowed him to invade Job’s life? 

Yet, he tried to tempt Jesus with riches.  Friends, many of us fall in and out of that trap on a daily basis.  But in Jesus own words in Mark 8:36 He warns us, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”  No doubt Jesus was reflecting on satan’s attempt to make him sell out on that mountain.  But satan can not give you what he does not own.  Instead, God offers us the riches of this world and beyond.  Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and the blessings of obedience to God, or Malachi 3:8-12 regarding the blessing of tithing.  If you want all the things in this life that will make you happy, my friend, they are in God’s hand, and He is willing to give them.  But He will not give them at the risk of having you worship them above Him.  He knows your heart.  When you put God first, blessings abound, because that is His will towards His obedient children.  Ephesians 3:20 tells us He is able to do more than we can even imagine. 

Yes, this is a war.  It is a war in the soul.  But my friends, we must stand our ground, remember who you are, remember what God's word says, remember who he is NOT, and tell the enemy “I will not retreat.  Not today satan, not today! And tomorrow’s not looking good for you either!"  With God with us and within us, there is victory.

 

The Division of ONE

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  that they all may be ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE just as We are ONE:  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” – Jesus Christ, John 17:20-23

Some days I just grow tired of hearing all the hate in this world.  But the problem is, I don’t grow tired enough of hearing about it to do anything consciously different.  Father, do not let this day be one of those.

Waking up this morning and hearing of the sniper shots that has killed and injured 10 police officers in Dallas, Texas, is heartbreaking.  It is always heartbreaking when the innocent suffer at the hands of those filled with hatred.  It hurts when it’s children in a school, when it’s women at the hands of their spouse, when it’s children at the hands of their own parents. 

We hate others for so many reasons.  We hate them because they’re different than us, whether it be their gender, their race, their social status, their sins, or even their tattoos.  It seems that as a society, we can look at any person and instead of finding reasons to love them, we find reasons to hate them.

I know ya’ll get tired of hearing this from me, and to be quite frank about it…that doesn’t bother me.  What this world needs is love, and God is LOVE in its purest form (1 John 4:8).  Love is the ONLY thing that will conquer hate.  It is the ONLY thing that will unite us as ONE again, and remove these divides in our society.

Jesus prayed for exactly that.  Before His death, He went to pray alone, and prayed for those of us that are living today – you and me.  His prayer wasn’t that we be rich and famous, have everything we need, be healthy, see the world, or even live happy lives.  What He prayed was far better than ALL of that.  He prayed that we would be ONE as He is ONE with God, “I in them and You in Me”.  That is the solution to the hatred of the world.

“I in them” is His Holy Spirit coming to live within us when we accept Him as our Savior.  “You in Me” is His Holiness as the Son of God, which He has always been (no, Jesus didn’t just come about when He was born into this world).  The closeness He has with the Father makes them ONE.  For us to share that closeness as a society, we need to be ONE with Him.

Does that mean all saved believers huddle together in a church three times a week and thank Him for our oneness? No!  Absolutely not!  In fact, if that is what we call Christianity, friends, we’ve got it all wrong.  Every one of us is to be a disciple to those around us who need His love.  That means YOU.  That means ME.  If you only show your Christian love in church, well, that’s more like showing up at a club meeting and showing off your membership card.  It doesn’t add to the society of ONE.  It doesn’t share God’s love.  It doesn’t change anything in this world.

And I’ll go a bit further and say that if all the world hears of your Christianity is how horrible they are and how much they need Jesus, well, that’s a turn off.  There’s no love in that at all.  How would you like it if that was the message you got from those you respect.  “Sister Dogooder, you just need to change your ways and be more like me.”  “Brother Betterthan, you need to stop that lifestyle you’ve chosen.”  Notice the focus is on criticism, not love.  See friends, those who we find fault in don’t see their faults.  Pointing out what we see is nothing more than pointing out what we don’t like (hate) about them. 

Your job is to love them. Let God change them.  That’s how your sanctification works.

The clock is ticking.  Hatred is ruling.  People are being killed because of their choices in sex partners, because of the color of their skin, because they wear a badge, because they watch a movie, and yes, occasionally because they are Christians as well.  I say occasionally because the truth is, unless we’re all huddled up in a church building somewhere, it’s hard for anyone to identify us to hurt us.

Our love for others must become our identity.  When John said “God is love”, he wasn’t saying God is a big read puffy heart.  He was saying that was God’s identity, His character, day in and day out.  LOVE overcomes hate like water overcomes fire. 

So now I ask you, when did you last show love for someone completely different than yourself?  Will today be different?  It will for me.  I do solemnly swear to you that hatred will not rule in my life. 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, if we don’t show love to the world, who will?  Without our example, why would they choose to become ONE with us?  It was Jesus’ prayer.  Let’s not be an obstacle to grace.

Hidden Manna - White Stone - New Name

 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the HIDDEN MANNA to eat. And I will give him a WHITE STONE, and on the stone a NEW NAME written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’- Revelation 2:17

When Jerusalem was taken over by the Chaldeans, King Josiah hid the ark of the covenant, which contained the tables of the commandments, a pot of manna, and Aarons rod. Prior to that, these were in the tabernacle behind a second veil in an area called “Holiest of All”.  The priest would go in there once a year carrying blood as a sacrifice to offer for the forgiveness of the sins of the people that were committed in ignorance (Hebrews 9).

Jesus is now that “Holiest of All”, our sacrifice for all sins, who overcame the laws on the tablets of stone, who is our “Bread of Life”, who is our blood sacrifice.

The white stone has two meanings.  Judgments were passed on people using black or white stones.  A white stone was an in innocent verdict, and a black stone was a guilty verdict. Those that overcome sin through belief in Christ are forgiven all their sins, and given a white stone.

But it’s not JUST a white stone.  It has a name engraved on it.  This also has ancient meaning.

Those who were winners in the public games (think Olympics, but far before) were given a white stone with their name inscribed on it.  It was an honor bestowed on them that gave them the privilege of being taken care of by the public for the rest of their lives.  It acted as the keys to the city, an open invitation to sit with Kings and great officials, to be fed, clothed, given transportation, and provided for in every way.  This was called as “Tesserae”.  The white stone we will receive grants us the provisions of life at the cost of someone else, namely Jesus Christ.  We have become children of God through His sacrifice, heirs to all that He has to offer.

Will all the names on the stones be the same?  No, for God knows His children individually.  Each of us will be given a name that only we know by God.  Oh, I cannot wait to hear what He calls me, but I most definitely know that He knows my name.

God's Timeline

 

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day….” – 2 Peter 3:8-9

I’ve been guilty of praying and thinking God isn’t interested in answering my prayer.  But that just isn’t true.  He does answer it, just not the way I want or when I want. 

We all live in such a microwave minute type of life.  We want everything at the snap of our fingers.  Heck! I’ve even quit waiting till the weekend to pick up stuff I need (thanks Amazon Prime, I’m addicted!).  We just do not have patience to wait.  And yet, He tells us that we are to wait on Him, and when we do we will be strengthened (Isaiah 40:31).  When he says that, He’s not talking about strength in our biceps and triceps.  He’s talking about strength of spirit, our ability to rest in Him, knowing He hears our prayers.  Waiting produces patience, and patience we’re told completes us so that we are lacking nothing (James 1:4).  It’s kind of a big deal to have patience, don’t you think?

I think we humanize God sometimes, imagining Him to be more like us that He is.  We (me included) need to remember that God has a different timeline than we do.  His stretches all the way through eternity as if it was a single day.  So when we ask for things in prayer, we have to trust that He always hears the prayers of His children, and that His view of life includes the future as history.  Sometimes it is best that we wait for what we’ve asked for - and that is what He does.  Sometimes it’s best that we don’t get what we’ve asked for - and that is what He does.  And sometimes, yes sometimes, He has got to say, “Seriously Faithie, you have got to be kidding me! A million dollars would just make you fat and lazy!”  But regardless of the answer, we can trust Him to do it all in our best interest. 

He’s a great Father.  He knows how to give the best gifts, and to withhold those that would harm us.

 

WILL IT MAKE YOU OR BREAK YOU?

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” – 1 Peter 1:6-7

There are times in life that you just feel like every day is a Monday, ya know? It’s like from every angle of your life there’s something to worry about, something to fear or be down about.  We have two options when we get to this spot in our journey.  We can let it break us, or we can let it make us.

You can let it break you by concentrating on the problems.  Sometimes they are mountains and you just cannot find a way around them.  Health issues, financial issues, relationship issues – they can all create worry and stress that just seem to have no end or solution.  It’s like your life has become a horror movie, and you just don’t look away.  When you don’t look away it just gets worse and worse, and your head fills with doubts, and those doubts grow into possibilities, and those possibilities start to keep you up at night until you are broken.

But God tells us in the above passage that these times come to us not to harm us, but to grow our faith, to make it genuine, to make it more valuable than gold.  It comes to allow us opportunity to praise and honor God.  We’re told in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT seen”.  In order to grow that faith, we have to stop concentrating on the problem, and start looking at the solution God will craft from our faith.  If you keep looking at the problem, you’ll be broken.  But instead of doing all your thinking on the problem, start thinking of the solution God will provide.  Looking forward to what is not yet seen will grow your faith.  It will give you hope.  It will make you stronger instead of breaking you. 

Friend, concentrate on the blessings of the past, the times He has brought you through the fires and storms of life.  He has a great plan for each of us.  We just need to remain faithful, remain streadfast, abiding in Him.  There is nothing in this life that is too big of a problem for Almighty God.

 

 

Unequally Yoked - Picking the Right Spouse

“But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—  from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.  For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.  Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.  So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,” – 1 Kings 11:1-9

We often hear at marriages that “two become one”, and don’t fully understand the meaning.  When you marry, your spirit is intertwined with your spouses.  You share life together in such a way that you become like each other, finishing each other’s sentences, often dressing alike, and even saying the same things.
 

God’s warning to Solomon came from His knowledge of what marrying those that are not Christians would do to his relationship with God.  If you marry someone who has no relationship with Christ, their lack of faith and desire to serve Him will affect your relationship with God.  You will be torn to love God, and love your spouse with their own selfish desires. 

While Solomon’s wives went after false gods, today’s non-Christians will go after false gods of a different type.  Today’s non-Christian may go after wealth, popularity, power, and the Amerian dream.  They may let their children become their idols, or their own physical appearance.  Regardless of what it is that they bring into your life as a non-Christian, it will diminish your relationship with God if you aren’t strong enough to bear it.  And the truth is, if you are strong enough to bear it, these things will prevent you from being attracted to that spouse, if not before you marry, then sadly during the marriage.

When picking a mate, look beyond the hair, eyes, and skin.  Look beyond their acts of love toward you. A strong marriage begins with strength of faith.  God commands us to look for those that are of the same faith, so that we can be “equally yoked”.  Not only do you not yoke an ox with a mule, but you don’t yoke an ox with a calf either.  If their faith is not strong enough to be the head of the house, ladies, you may end up walking off path with them.  If their faith is not as important to them as yours is to you, young men, you may end up feeling like your faith is a conflict because you cannot share it with her.  Choose wisely, because “two become one” in flesh, and in spirit. 
 

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:  “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18